Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Exercise

Chat to other fitness enthusiasts on our Exercise forum.

Original poster

Is it gauche to be friendly at exercise classes

40 replies

LadyWithLapdog · 19/08/2017 15:59

After a long gap I've started going again, various classes at various gyms. Why is everyone so unfriendly?! I don't expect a full welcome because I'm new but at least eye contact and smile back. Quite off putting :(

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyWithLapdog · 19/08/2017 18:26

Ah, I don't go in the changing room, just in and out. I haven't managed at lunchtime yet but if I do then I'll have to get changed there.

One of the gyms is just one tiny studio and very new, a couple of months perhaps. So maybe no one actually knows anyone else either. The other one has been around for longer and the staff seem nice and cheerful. The other is the leisure centre so perhaps transitory attendees, people like me going as and when. Another one is a community hall, recently refurbished.

I see what you mean about getting into the 'zone'. I haven't been in ages and ages so I obviously don't take it too seriously.

I'll keep going as I want to eventually be able to commute to work by bike (only a couple of miles) and maybe even start running.

OP posts:
Abra1d · 19/08/2017 17:01

You can usually tell when someone wants to chill in their own space and you just say hi and leave them to themselves.

runningyogabooze · 19/08/2017 16:47

The classes I go to are v friendly - normally it's me keeping my head down as I like a bit of peace when I get time to myself!

Is the place you go to super cool or something like that? Imagine those types of gyms a bit more intimidating.

thecapitalsunited · 19/08/2017 16:20

I talk to people at my exercise classes. And in the changing room. Sometimes it's newbies looking like they need a bit of encouragement that they're doing the right thing and sometimes there's only so many times you can nod at the same woman without asking how it's going!

ClockworkGoblin · 19/08/2017 16:20

I think for me my whole point of going to exercise classes is stress relief. Sometimes I just want to be think about myself and thus talking/interacting with other people have never been my focus. It's nothing personal!

Original poster
LadyWithLapdog · 19/08/2017 16:16

I'm not competitive! A bit two left feet at the moment. I'm going to various classes because they fit around work and the school holidays rather than checking them out to find my level. It would be nice to meet people outside of them too but it's not going to happen.

OP posts:
LittleWitch · 19/08/2017 16:06

We are a very friendly bunch in our village and very welcoming to newcomers. We're so friendly that 12 of us are going on holiday together next year. Some people might find that too friendly Grin. There's no way we'd give anyone the cold shoulder, but interestingly we have occasionally had newbies come along who were a bit competitive less friendly than they may have been. Horses for courses I imagine. Presumably some people want to come along, do the class and go again without particularly joining in, and that's ok too.

Original poster
LadyWithLapdog · 19/08/2017 16:05

I'll look out for some nice MNers :)

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 19/08/2017 16:05

I have made several friends from going to classes. The social aspect is what I like best about them compared to the gym

Original poster
LadyWithLapdog · 19/08/2017 16:04

lljkk Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyWithLapdog · 19/08/2017 16:03

It's intimidating enough not knowing the steps or equipment or who the instructor is.

OP posts:
Abra1d · 19/08/2017 16:03

This always amazes me, this unfriendliness: I try always to make eye contact/smile/say hello.

SummerKelly · 19/08/2017 16:02

I think it varies from my experience, some are quite cliquey and there's no point speaking to people in the cliques, but other people are friendly. Other places no clique so it just depends on whether the individual you speak to is friendly or not. I can't say I've ever actually made a friend at one though in many years of going - not to gym classes anyway, maybe more with yoga outside gyms.

dementedpixie · 19/08/2017 16:00

I'm always nice to newbies at the classes I go to.

lljkk · 19/08/2017 16:00

Everyone is miserable because they are at an exercise class? Wink Grin